The Wandering Jew — Complete eBook

Then said the notary, in a slightly agitated voice,
for there was something extraordinary and solemn in
this scene—­

“No other heir of M. Marius de Rennepont having
presented himself, before noon on this day, I execute
the will of the testator, by declaring, in the name
of law and justice, that M. Francois Marie Gabriel
de Rennepont, here present, is the sole heir and possessor
of all the estate, real and personal, bequeathed under
the said will; all which estate the said Gabriel de
Rennepont, priest, has freely and voluntarily made
over by deed of gift to Frederic Emanuel de Bordeville,
Marquis d’Aigrigny, priest, who has accepted
the same, and is, therefore, the only legal holder
of such property, in the room of the said Gabriel de
Rennepont, by virtue of the said deed, drawn up and
engrossed by me this morning, and signed in my presence
by the said Gabriel de Rennepont and Frederic d’Aigrigny.”

At this moment, the sound of loud voices was heard
from the garden. Bathsheba entered hastily, and
said to her husband with an agitated air: “Samuel—­a
soldier—­who insists—­”

She had not time to finish. Dagobert appeared
at the door of the Red Room. The soldier was
fearfully pale. He seemed almost fainting; his
left arm was in a sling, and he leaned upon Agricola.
At sight of Dagobert, the pale and flabby eyelids
of Rodin were suddenly distended, as if all the blood
in his body had flowed towards the head. Then
the socius threw himself upon the casket, with the
haste of ferocious rage and avidity, as if he were
resolved to cover it with his body, and defend it at
the peril of his life.

[20] This term is sanctioned by legal usage.

CHAPTER XXV.

Thedeedofgift.

Father d’Aigrigny did not recognize Dagobert,
and had never seen Agricola. He could not therefore,
at first explain the kind of angry alarm exhibited
by Rodin. But the reverend father understood it
all, when he heard Gabriel utter a cry of joy, and
saw him rush into the arms of the smith, exclaiming:
“My brother! my second father—­oh!
it is heaven that sends you to me.”

Having pressed Gabriel’s hand, Dagobert advanced
towards Father d’Aigrigny, with a rapid but
unsteady step. As he remarked the soldier’s
threatening countenance, the reverend father, strong
in his acquired rights, and feeling that, since noon,
he was at home here; drew back a little, and said
imperiously to the veteran: “Who are you,
sir!—­What do you want here?”

Instead of answering, the soldier continued to advance,
then, stopping just facing Father d’Aigrigny,
he looked at him for a second with such an astounding
mixture of curiosity, disdain, aversion, and audacity,
that the ex-colonel of hussars quailed before the
pale face and glowing eye of the veteran. The
notary and Samuel, struck with surprise, remained mute
spectators of this scene, while Agricola and Gabriel
followed with anxiety Dagobert’s least movements.
As for Rodin, he pretended to be leaning on the casket,
in order still to cover it with his body.